JUNE 7, 2014

Ferrari adds engineer to end Raikkonen struggle

Ferrari has moved to end Kimi Raikkonen's 2014 troubles by giving him another race engineer.

The Toronto Sun newspaper reports that at the struggling 2007 world champion's side in Montreal this weekend is a Briton, David Lloyd.

The report said Lloyd, until now a factory-based test engineer with the Maranello team, is assisting Raikkonen's race engineer Antonio Spagnolo, an Italian.

"Ferrari did not say if the move would be temporary or permanent," said the report.

Spain's El Confidencial said the appointment of Lloyd - a Briton like Raikkonen's favourite engineer at McLaren and Lotus, Mark Slade - is aimed at improving the line of communication between the reticent Finn and the Ferrari team.

"Six races have passed and still Kimi is not comfortable with the car," said the report. "Something is wrong -- is it the exchange of information between Kimi and Spagnolo?"

Carlos Sainz jr, a burgeoning Red Bull junior driver, said Raikkonen's struggle has been "the most surprising thing" of the 2014 season so far.

"I think the best drivers in formula one can even make a tricycle go fast. For me, adaptation is key," he explained.

Raikkonen said in Montreal that the 2014 title goal for Ferrari is already over.

"But within Ferrari we still want to do the best that we can at every race, we want to get stronger for the future and aim for the podium," he said.